1. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ASKS SUPREME COURT TO ALLOW MAIL-BALLOT RULES

The Trump administration has again asked the Supreme Court to allow new rules involving mail ballots before the November midterm elections. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Postal Service from enforcing the changes while courts consider whether they are legal. The administration argues that delaying the rules could create confusion because states are already beginning to mail ballots to voters. Democratic-led states, voting-rights groups, and some election officials argue that changing procedures so close to Election Day could create problems for states and prevent some eligible voters from having their ballots counted. The dispute is especially important because nearly one-third of U.S. voters use mail ballots. The Supreme Court has allowed parts of the administration’s plan to move forward during the legal fight but has not made a final decision about the legality of the disputed rules. Create a two-column “courtroom evidence board.” On one side, list reasons to allow the rules to stand for now, and on the other side, list reasons to keep them blocked for now. Using information from the story, place at least three arguments or concerns on each side. Then write a short paragraph explaining what information you think a judge would need in order to determine whether changing mail-ballot procedures shortly before an election could cause more or less confusion.

2. PROPOSAL WOULD PAY SOME PARENTS TO PROVIDE CHILD CARE AT HOME

The Trump administration is considering a major change to a federal program that helps lower-income families pay for child care. Currently, the Child Care and Development Fund mainly assists parents who need child care while they work, attend school, or receive job training. Under a draft proposal, certain married couples could also receive assistance when one parent works at least 35 hours a week and the other stays home to care for their child. Supporters argue that parents who provide care at home deserve financial support just as families using child care providers do. Critics worry that adding more families without adding more money could leave less assistance for working parents, particularly single parents, and could hurt child care centers that depend on the subsidies. The proposal has not been finalized and would still need to go through additional steps, including a public-comment period, before taking effect. Suppose a community receives $90,000 to help families with child care, but there is not enough money to fully fund everyone who qualifies. Develop a set of three rules for deciding how the money should be distributed. Your rules could consider income, employment, family structure, the age of children, or other factors. After creating the rules, explain what trade-offs your system creates and identify one type of family that might benefit and one that might be disadvantaged.

3. U.S. TRIES TO WIN BACK CANADIAN VISITORS

American tourism organizations are trying to persuade Canadians to visit the United States again after cross-border travel dropped sharply. Canadian residents made 25% fewer return border crossings in 2025 than the year before, a decline connected to several factors, including a weaker Canadian dollar, higher travel costs, political tensions, and opposition among some Canadians to President Trump’s statements and policies toward their country. Tourism officials in places such as New York and Las Vegas have responded with discounts and advertising campaigns emphasizing that Canadian visitors are welcome. Travel showed some signs of improvement during the summer, when the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosted the World Cup, but a renewed U.S.-Canada trade dispute could make recovery more difficult. The situation shows how disagreements between national governments can have economic effects on hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other businesses far from political capitals. Imagine you are the marketing director for a U.S. city that normally receives many Canadian tourists. Design the main idea for an advertisement aimed at Canadian families, including a slogan, two incentives for visiting, and one sentence acknowledging why some travelers may currently be hesitant. Then explain why advertising and discounts might help tourism but may not be enough to overcome a larger disagreement between countries.

4. CROATIANS DEMAND CLEANUP OF TOXIC WASTE

Tens of thousands of people protested in Croatia because a large amount of hazardous waste has remained near the town of Gospic for more than a year. Investigators say about 37,000 metric tons of waste, including electronics, plastics, construction materials, and medical waste, were illegally dumped there. Recent testing found unusually high levels of some metals in the soil and detected PFAS, sometimes called “forever chemicals,” in groundwater. Residents worry that pollution could spread through the region’s loose soil, rivers, and underground water systems, possibly reaching areas closer to the Adriatic Sea. Government officials say investigations and cleanup preparations are underway, while protesters argue that action has been far too slow. The dispute has become a larger debate about environmental protection, government responsibility, and what communities should be able to expect when pollution threatens their health. Create an environmental action plan for Gospic. Divide your response into three parts: what should happen immediately, what should happen during the cleanup, and what should happen afterward to prevent another illegal dumping problem. For each stage, explain at least two actions that government officials, scientists, or community members could take. Finish by identifying one piece of evidence officials should collect to determine whether the cleanup is actually working.

5. ARGENTINA RENEWS ITS CLAIM TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has renewed his country’s long-standing claim to the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas. The islands are controlled by the United Kingdom but are located about 300 miles from Argentina, and disagreement over their ownership has lasted for generations. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, leading to a 74-day war that ended with Britain regaining control and hundreds of soldiers on both sides dead. Today, another issue has increased tensions: companies plan to produce oil in waters near the islands, and Argentina argues that those resources are being taken from territory it considers its own. Britain maintains that the islanders should determine their political future, and in a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of participating residents voted to remain a British overseas territory. Milei has not threatened another invasion, but the dispute shows how questions about territory, natural resources, history, and people’s right to choose their government can remain unsettled for decades. Create a “conflict layers” diagram with four connected circles labeled History, Geography, People, and Resources. In each circle, write two facts from the story that help explain why the Falkland Islands remain disputed. After completing the diagram, write a short explanation identifying which two layers are most closely connected and how they make the disagreement more difficult to resolve.